ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST

NN2 –(60’)

SECTION A
Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. Write the correct letter A, B, C or
D on your answer sheet.
1. He was injured and the ………. took him to the hospital.
A. bus B. ambulance C. train D. lorry
2. Phone me before ten, ………. I’ll be too busy to talk to you.
A. unless B. whether C. otherwise D. if
3. Please hurry or you will be late ………. school.
A. to B. for C. in D. at
4. Can you keep the noise down, please? It’s ………. that I cannot hear myself think.
A. so noisy B. so much noisy C. such noise D. too noisy
5. The doctor advised Tom to stop ……….
A. for smoking B. smoke C. to smoke D. smoking
6. We decided to eat outside in spite ………. the weather.
A. with B. for C. of D. in
7. I’ll wait here until you ……….
A. will return B. return C. are returning D. would return
8. It’s not worth ………. out now. It is much to late.
A. to go B. go C. going D. for going
9. Hurry up! They’ve got ………. seats left.
A. a little B. a few C. a lot of D. plenty of
10. The children ………. to the zoo.
A. were enjoyed taken B. enjoyed being taken
C. were enjoyed taking D. enjoyed taking
11. Mexico is the most popular vacation ………. for people from the United States.
A. destination B. departure C. connection D. target
12. People with hearing ………. can cope in a hearing world with the help of the hearing aid.
A. disable B. disabilities C. unable D. inability
13. This ring is only made of plastic so it’s quite ……….
A. valuable B. invaluable C. worthless D. priceless
14. He was watching television ………. the burglar alarm went off.
A. when B. because C. until D. after
15. We ………. all your help in this matter.
A. estimate B. enjoy C. appreciate D. evaluate
16. I’m really sleepy today. I wish I ………. Bob to the airport late last night.
A. didn’t have to B. weren’t taking C. didn’t take D. hadn’t had to take
17. Some passengers spoke to reporters about their ………. in the burning plane.
A. occasion B. happening C. event D. experience
18. The Browns are travelling to London ………. train.
A. on B. through C. in D. by
19. He’d prefer vanilla cream ………. chocolate ice cream.
A. to B. than C. more than D. much than
20. School children are looking forward to ………. on holiday.
A. going B. be going C. go D. have gone

SECTION B
Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space. Write the correct letter A, B, C
or D on your answer sheet.
Pony Express
1 – NN2 Intermediate
 Before 1860 there was no quick way of getting mail between the east and the west of the
United States. There were no railways at that (21)________ and most mail was sent by coach. It
usually (22)________ at least 25 days for coaches to (23)________ the coast. So in 1860 it
(24)________ decided to send mail by ‘Pony Express’, which was much faster. Riders
(25)________ very fast horses were placed along the route. They were at (26)________ distances
from each other and the mail was handed from one rider to the next. Riders were all (27)________
to travel between twenty and thirty kilometres (28)________ day on very bad roads. At each stop
two minutes were (29)________ for exchanging the mail bags, but riders were often held up by
awful weather (30)________ closed the roads. With the invention of the telegraph in 1861, the
demand for Pony Express disappeared.

21. A. time B. date C. age D. season

22. A. spent B. lasted C. took D. passed
23. A. get B. arrive C. come D. reach
24. A. had B. was C. has D. is
25. A. for B. off C. with D. behind
26. A. like B. equal C. same D. level
27. A. wished B. wanted C. expected D. hoped
28. A. a B. one C. some D. any
29. A. let B. allowed C. done D. made
30. A. which B. where C. what D. when

SECTION C
Read the following passage and answer questions 31-35. Write the correct letter A, B, C or D on
your answer sheet.
In 776 B.C. the first Olympic Games were held at the foot of Mount Olympus to honor the
Greeks' chief god, Zeus. The Greeks emphasized physical fitness and strength in their education of
youth. Therefore, contests in running, jumping, discus and javelin throwing, boxing, and horse and
chariot racing were held in individual cities, and the winners competed every four years at Mount
Olympus.
Winners were greatly honored by having olive wreaths placed on their heads and having
poems sung about their deeds. Originally these were held as games of friendship, and any wars in
progress were halted to allow the games to take place. The Greeks attached so much importance to
these games that they calculated time in four year cycles called "Olympiads" dating from 776 B.C.
31. Which of the following is not true?
A. Winners placed olive wreaths on their own heads.
B. The games were held in Greece every four years.
C. Battles were interrupted to participate in the games.
D. Poems glorified the winners in song.
32. Why were the Olympic Games held?
A. To stop wars B. To honor Zeus
C. To crown the best athletes D. To sing songs about the athletes
33. Approximately how many years ago did these games originate?
A. 776 years B. 1,205 years
C. 2,277 years D. 2,790 years
34. Which of the following contests was not mentioned?
A. discus throwing B. boxing
C. skating D. running

2 – NN2 Intermediate
35. What conclusion can we draw about the ancient Greeks?
A. They liked to fight.
B. They were very athletic.
C. They liked a lot of ceremony.
D. They couldn't count, so they used "Olympiads" for dates

Read the following passage and answer questions 36-40. Write the correct letter A, B, C or D on
your answer sheet.
People commonly complain that they never have enough time to accomplish tasks. The
hours and minutes seem to slip away before many planned chores get done. According to time
management experts, the main reason for this is that most people fail to set priorities about what to
do first. They get tied down by trivial, time-consuming matters and never complete the important
ones.
One simple solution often used by those at the top is to keep lists of tasks to be
accomplished daily. These lists order jobs from most essential to least essential and are checked
regularly through the day to assess progress. Not only is this an effective way to manage time, but
also it serves to give individuals a much-deserved sense of satisfaction over their achievements.
People who do not keep lists often face the end of the workday with uncertainty over the
significance of their accomplishments, which over time can contribute to serious problems in
mental and physical health.
36. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Common Complaints About Work B. Accomplishing Trivial Matters
C. Achieving Job Satisfaction D. Learning To Manage Time
37. According to the passage, why do many people never seem to have enough time to accomplish
things?
A. They do not prioritise tasks.
B. They get tied down by one difficult problem.
C. They fail to deal with trivial matters.
D. They do not seek the advice of time management experts.
38. In paragraph 2, the word those refers to ____
A. daily lists B. trivial matters
C. priorities D. people
39. The passage states that one solution to time management problems is to ____
A. consult a time management expert
B. accomplish time-consuming matters first
C. keep daily lists of priorities and check them regularly
D. spend only a short time on each task
40. The paragraph following this passage most probably discusses ____
A. mental and physical health problems
B. another solution to time management problemstyhba
C. ways to achieve a sense of fulfillment
D. different types of lists

SECTION D
Choose the underlined words or phrase that is incorrect. Write the correct letter A, B, C or D on
your answer sheet. To give
41. Keep (A) away from me! I’ve got (B) a terrible cold, and I don’t want (C) give it (D) to you.
3 – NN2 Intermediate
42. When I (A) arrived at her house, I found she (B) has been out with her (C) new friend without
(D) leaving me a note. Had been
43. One (A) of the most urgent (B) problem facing us now (C) is the need (D) to control
population growth. Problems
44. She (A) asked why (B) did Mathew look so (C) embarrassed when he (D) saw Carol.
Mathew looked
45. Because there are (A) less members present tonight (B) than there (C) were last night, we must
Fewer
wait until the next meeting (D) to vote.
46. (A) There was (B) a very interesting news (C) on the radio this morning (D) about the
earthquake in Italy. o
47. I (A) had not to work yesterday (B) because it was my day (C) off, so I was going (D) to see
my friend instead. Did not have to work
48. This (A) nice flat (B) looks (C) perfectly for (D) a young couple. Preferly
49. Each year people (A) around the world spend (B) billions of dollars (C) to buy merchandise
(D) on the internet.
50. (A) The modern American dictionary is (B) typically a single compact (C) publishing (D) at a
modest price. Publication

4 – NN2 Intermediate